Citi-Bike

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 5:15pm

Anyone been on one around New York City yet?

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 5:25pm

Namo and I are members.

Here's an earlier thread about them:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1062957&boardname=off&boardid=2&page=1

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 5:29pm

I've done it in Montreal, where it's been a huge success. Very convenient (issues of helmets aside...)

[Addison D.]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 5:34pm

I'm a member, but I've yet to actually ride one of the bikes. I get around town almost exclusively on my bike, though, and I can tell you that the roads and bike lanes are packed with happy Citi-bikers and their flash-y red and white lights. It's fantastic.

Updated On: 11/8/13 at 05:34 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 5:43pm

"Namo and I are members."

Namo lives in Peoria.

[Addison D.]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 5:44pm

Sr. Carlos Danger rides el bicicleta de ciudad!!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 5:50pm

I'm thinking of joining the Chicago version, Divvy.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 6:45pm

I'm really surprised by how well it's working. I was worried about the safety of the bicyclists with the lack of bike lanes but the worst I've heard are some theft stories where people stupidly didn't lock the bikes all the way back into the racks.

DC has the best bike rental system I've seen and bike lanes on almost every road to accommodate them. The next time I'm there, I'll have to remember to bring a helmet so I can get to more of the museums each day.

I personally wouldn't use them in NYC because walking around the city is one of my favorite things to do, but I'm glad the option is there for more adventurous visitors and residents. I'll stick to my own two feet and intentionally wandering off my path to find fun new shops and restaurants to try out.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 6:47pm

Oh, I like Divvy's color.

But yeah, I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who would not consider CitiBike a success. But I'm sure one of our treasured off-topic contrarians will find a fault.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 7:11pm

blah, blah, blah, get in the way of the SUV my daddy bought me, blah, blah blah

(like that, Kad?)

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 7:20pm

"But I'm sure one of our treasured off-topic contrarians will find a fault"

I wish Patti LuPone would comment on them. She has a way with words.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 7:37pm

I love it!

I've ridden around Central Park on them and along the East River a couple of times. I haven't quite braved the general streets of NYC, but have tried to scout out the areas close to parks or the river that have the bikes, and then do some riding from there.

Updated On: 11/8/13 at 07:37 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 8:59pm

Perfect, AEA AGMA SM!

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 9:06pm

Yes, perfect! You just need to add a poorly written "hashtag" and mention something about Native Americans. Then you'll be all set.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/8/13 at 10:21pm

America forced the native americans off there land just so they could ride city bikes everywhere... meanwhile my dad couldn't even find a sppace to park his svu he made out of soviet tank parts cuz of these bikes!!!!`

#youareallhypopotomases

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 11/9/13 at 9:40am

Brilliant.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/9/13 at 9:48am

I'm really surprised by how well it's working.

The success of it is really one of the true miracles of our time.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 11/10/13 at 10:46am

I was thinking of hiring a bike out for a week while I am over, I brought out my safety helmet just in case, but the sidewalk payment processor doesn't seem to want to take my VISA card, do these only take Mastercard?

[Addison D.]

Posted: 11/10/13 at 11:01am

Your VISA should work POL.

Try another kiosk, or call the customer service folks at 855-BIKE-311. They will help you out.

[suestorm]

Posted: 11/10/13 at 11:54am

Omg!. Kad that's funny. You crack me up!
Except I drive an SRX Thats American muscle.! I'm patriotic

just curious.... Do you drive American?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/10/13 at 12:07pm

I rode a Citi-Bike for the first time yesterday. Took mine to Central Park. I had a great time except when I got into a slight jam travelling with it downtown, but I made it through without incident...pretty close calls though, but that's to be expected, the traffic in New York City is just bananas.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 11/10/13 at 12:22pm

Yes, Carlos. As someone who regularly drives in NYC, I can attest to that. It really is those damn cabbies. Far too aggressive...

[Kad]

Posted: 11/10/13 at 12:26pm

Delivery people on bikes are pretty bad, too. Talk about no regard whatsoever for any sort of rule.

[suestorm]

Posted: 11/11/13 at 1:57pm

this really does make you understand why they pushed this thru so aggressively.

The New York Times reported that low-income residents are an exceptionally small minority among those who have signed up for a Citi Bike annual membership. The regular cost for that membership is $95, and 33,000 people have already registered and paid, the Times said, but of that 33,000, only 200 have purchased the discounted, $50, membership for residents of public housing.

The Wall Street Journal also put Citi Bike’s limited rollout in stark terms, saying that 90 percent of New York’s population lives in neighborhoods without a bike-share station, at least for the moment. Furthermore, the Journal said, neighborhoods served by those stations are wealthier, with a median household income of about $73,000, compared to $48,300 for the rest of the city, and whiter than average, with 56 percent whites in those areas while just under 31 percent of the city as a whole is white.

http://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2013/06/10/citi-bike-may-have-a-diversity-problem.html

Updated On: 11/11/13 at 01:57 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/11/13 at 2:01pm

I am not white nor do I make 73,000 a year...guess what? I have a Citi Bike membership.